The Relationship Between Post UTME and UTME Scores of Students Admitted into Universities in Nigeria
Publication Date: 23/09/2020
Author(s): Etaga Harrison O., Etaga Njideka C., Aforka Kenechukwu F..
Volume/Issue: Volume 3 , Issue 5 (2020)
Abstract:
Until recently entrance examination and admission into Nigerian Universities were decentralized. Individual universities conducted entrance examinations and admission into their various universities. This decentralization of university admission brought about numerous problems among which were multiple admission of a student at the detriment of other students who have not gained admission, irregularities and malpractices. To address these problems JAMB was introduced in 1977 in order to centralize and coordinate university admissions in Nigeria. For almost three decades of JAMB conducting entrance examination and admissions in Nigeria universities (1997-2006), the body has faced a lot of criticisms by most scholars and leaders in the country. JAMB conduct was seen as an inconsistent and incompetent entrance examination in Nigeria universities. Due to the perceived lapses in the JAMB conducted examination which was characterized by examination malpractices which made the result of candidates doubtful, Nigerian Universities decided to conduct another screening test which is called Post UTME for the candidates who were able to score from 180 and above. Therefore, there is need to find out the degree of correlations between candidates’ scores in UTME and Post-UTME in order to determine whether the introduction of the Post-UTME by Nigerian universities is justifiable or not. Data were collected for five years 2010-2014 and were analyzed using correlation analysis. The result showed that candidates’ scores in Jamb don’t actually represent their true scores or ability. There is a weak relationship that existed between candidates’ scores in JAMB and their corresponding score in PUTME. In the period under study. The results of the research work imply that: Jamb scores of candidates differ from their corresponding scores in PUTME. It is better to maintain the two examination so as to act as check and balance for the screening of candidates seeking admission into the universities.
